The Layers Of Cancer

How many layers does it take to get through cancer world? You have to be a pretty hardy soul to make it through from beginning to end.

If you're the patient, you have to find the first layer of strength just to absorb the body blow after being told you have cancer.

Then it's on to the world of treatments and scans and surgeries and medicines. Lots more layers needed there. Some that will take you through years of recurrences. And sadly, some that will just give you the strength to fight until the cancer takes the fight away.

Being the care/life giver ... we need different layers. Call it protection. We need a layer, actually an iron glove, to fit tightly around our hearts, because they take such a beating over time.

We have to find a layer of strength to watch as our loved ones go through countless procedures, just to live.

We have to find a voice we've never used before to be their advocate when they can't speak for themselves.

And who knows where that layer of stamina comes from when the cancer-grip tightens and the care level rises? And after death marches in to finish up cancer's work, what then?

We need a survivor's layer.

Not a good idea to shed that "heart glove" just yet.

-- Laurie

8:46 AM ET | 10- 3-2008 | permalink

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